His Unfolding Grace

Twice in the last 24 hours I have come across the following verse: "So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 MSG)

Twice. Somebody is trying to tell me something. Don't give up on His grace.

The past few days I haven't written anything. Not that I haven't been thankful for anything, but to be honest I've felt like a failure as a mom. What kind of mother is sometimes happier at work than at home? Work is so much simpler than home life. It's easier to fake cheerfulness and energy with a patient than with my own children. And that makes me sad. My two little ones are learning to express themselves via screaming, in addition to the hitting, biting, whining, etc. I know this is not uncommon, but it is so very exhausting.

But, praise the Lord, He is not done with me yet. His Grace is sufficient for ME!

And even though it may feel "like things are falling apart on us, ... God is making new life..." IN ME! So why don't I choose to focus on His goodness? It takes, for me anyway, a conscious choice to see how many blessings He has showered upon me. Here are just a few more...

22. The velvety nose of a horse. Always one of my favorite things.

23. The fragrance of daphne carried in a warm spring breeze.

24. The wind in your hair when driving with the windows down on a beautiful day.

25. My mother's optimism. Wish I would have inherited more of it, but I am trying to train myself to let go of the negativity.

26. Laughing with my sister over incredibly silly inside jokes... POMEGRANATE!

27. Ahhhhh the luck o' the Irish! Sorry, another inside joke.

28. Did I mention He's not finished with me yet?

Now what I need is to think of these things and many more when those walls start to crumble. When I feel like I'm about to lose control, and like I'm failing in the battle for my attitude.

"Morning by morning, new mercies I see... Great is Thy faithfulness!"

Thank you, Jesus.